Page 26 of Closer than Ever

“Here,” Hayley said. “Let me.” She stepped towards the door and gave it a decisive couple of knocks, coming close into Anna’s personal space.

Anna inhaled her perfume involuntarily.

Within seconds the door was swung open and Myla and Kelly were there, smiling, as Barley the golden retriever burst through the door.

“Hello!” Myla and Kelly said together.

“Come in,” Kelly said, gesturing for them to step inside.

Barley circled their legs, wagging his tail. “Barley,” Kelly said. “Come on. Let them in.”

“It’s so great to meet you guys, especially you, Barley.” Hayley shook hands with Myla and Kelly before patting Barley on the back. “What a gorgeous dog!”

It was all very formal and polite and making Anna tense. “We brought a lemon tart.”

“Thank you!” Myla said. “I love a tart.”

“Hey!” Kelly said, indignantly.

They all laughed.

“I love your home,” Hayley said. “It’s like stepping onto a movie set.”

“Would you like a tour?” Myla said.

“Uh, yes please!”

Hayley and Myla drifted further into the house, already chatting away.

“She’s lovely,” Kelly said, keeping her voice down. “And very pretty.”

Anna didn’t know what to say. They weren’t a couple. Hayley wasn’t hers. “She is that.”

“Let’s take that tart through to the kitchen.”

Anna followed Kelly through the wide corridor towards the large and square kitchen. The high ceilings never failed to amaze Anna. Two rooms could fit in there. Barley sniffed at the dish as Anna placed it on the counter.

“I was going to text you.” Kelly partially closed the door. “It’s been confirmed today. You can get the time off. Thought you might want to know as soon as possible.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Anna was stunned.

“You’ve been so loyal to Glenbuinidh over the years, working overtime when we were short of staff, always giving plenty of notice for your annual leave, not to mention entertaining visitors and making sales soar – we owe you this.”

“I really appreciate that, Kelly.”

Kelly smiled. She was such a good boss, as well as a good friend. “Now you just have to decide if you are going to go or not.”

“I’m so torn.”

“Are you overthinking it?”

“Yeah. Maybe. It’s been doing my head in the last few days. It’s so typical of Hayley to turn my whole world upside down even if it’s for a good reason.”

Myla and Hayley came into the kitchen. Barley greeted them like he hadn’t seen them in ages. He was such a cute dog.

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